The casino purposely overstaffed and then experienced a 44 percent turnover - a little higher than the expected 40 percent rate - which Lambert attributes to the idiosyncrasies of living a casino lifestyle. About 16 percent of the workforce comes from northern Georgia. Valley River employs 975 people, down from the 1,100 originally hired. More than 33 percent of first-year visitors arrived from the Atlanta market, according to Harrah’s research. Visitation has been good,” said Lumpy Lambert, general manager of the casino-hotel, sitting the next day in the Starbucks housed in the casino lobby as early-morning gamblers streamed in.Ī tally of 1.1 million people rotated through the $110 million property its first year, almost exactly aligned with expectations, Lambert said. The casino and adjoining hotel sit on 40 acres of land, which is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and operated by Caesars Entertainment. While Georgia stubbornly digs in its heels against approving gaming in the state, Harrah's opened its second North Carolina property exactly 15.3 miles over the state line and a two-hour drive from metro Atlanta.

Valley river harrah's casino